Inhaler.



PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906.

, P. B. MURPHY.

INHALER.

APPLIOATION FILED 8EPT.23,1905.

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FRANK B. MURPHY, OF LOGANSPORT, INDIANA.

INHALER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

Application filed September 23,1905. Serial No. 279,854.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK B. MURPHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Logansport, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inhalers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention contemplates the provision of an inhaler or device for administering medicine through inhalation, embodying such a construction that the air inhaled is thoroughly impregnated with medicine and yet the patient is enabled to inhale and exhale naturally and without more than the ordinary effort.

The invention also contemplates the pro vision of an inhaler or medicine-administering device adapted to be quickly and easily charged with the medicine which it is desired to administer.

The inhaler or medicine-administering d evice is designed more particularly for local treatment of the mouth, nasal passages, throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs, and its construction and practical advantages will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is a front view illustrating the in haler constituting the present and preferred embodiment of my invention as properly applied on a patient. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a diametrical section showing the tube of the inhaler, the annulus of absorbent material therein, and the devices for retaining the annulus in proper position relative to the tube. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of one of the anmilus-retaining clips removed. Fig. 5 is a view of the annulus removed; and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modification hereinafter referred to in detail.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, A is the cup-shaped body of the inhaler, which is designed to receive the nose and mouth of a patient after the 111 anner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The said body is formed of aluminium or other metal or material susceptible of being quickly and thoroughly cleaned and not liable to absorb disease germs, and its edge is shaped to conform to and snugly fit the face and is provided with a pad a, of rubber, felt, or other compressible material, this in order to preclude air gaining access to the interior of the cup except through the tube, presently described. B is a loop of elastic material connected at its ends to the body A at opposite sides of the latter. The said loop B is designed to be positioned under tension on the head of a patient in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and when it is so positioned it may be depended on to yieldingly hold the body A to the patients face and against casual displacement. It will be noted, however, that both the body A and the loop B may be quickly and easily re moved when the patient so desires. O is a tube formed integral with or otherwise fixed to the body A and extending forwardly therefrom. This tube is provided at its rear end with inwardly-directed lugs b, which constitute a stop for the annulus presently described. D is the annulus, which is formed of suitable absorbent material, and E E are the clips which I prefer to employ for retaining the annulus in the tube and against casual displacement therefrom. The annulus is saturated or otherwise impregnated with the medicine or medicines that it is desired to administer and is placed in the tube C against the stop formed by the lugs b, after which the clips E are positioned on the outer end of the tube in the manner shownthat is to say, the spring-loops c of the clips are sprung on the end of the tube and the inwardly-directed arms (Z of the clips are arranged. against the outer or forward side of the annulus D. IVith the parts thus arranged. it will be seen that there is no liability of the annulus D being accidentally displaced from the tube C, and yet said annulus may be quickly and easily removed from the tube and as readily relaced therein when desired. hen removed. from the tube, the annulus may be expeditiously and thoroughly saturated or otherwise impregnated with medicine. Moreover, it will be apparent that by reason of the annulus being readily removable another annulus impregnated with a different kind of medicine may be substituted for it when necessary. Any suitable stop other than the lugs b may be used to limit the inward movement of the annulus D-i. 0., to prevent the passage of said annulus from the tube C to the b0 dy Awithout involving a departure from the scope of my invention. I prefer, however, to use either the said lugs b or the screen 1). (Shown in Fig. 6.)

In the practical use of my novel inhaler the same is applied to the head of a patient, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and hence all the air inhaled and exhaled by the patient Will pass through the opening of the annulus D, the tube O, and the body A. In its passage through the annulus the air will take up a portion of the medicine with which the annulus is impregnated and will serve as a vehicle to carry said medicine to the mouth, nasal passages, bronchial tubes, and lungs of the patient. As the medicine is thus conveyed incident to each inhalation of air, it follows that during a nights sleep a large quantity of the medicine is carried to the parts affected, which is an important desideratum.

The annulus D, of absorbent material, will be appreciated as highly advantageous when it is remembered that the air passes through the opening of the annulus, and the annulus offers no obstruction to the inward and out ward passage of the air. By virtue of this the air drawn into the mouth and nose of the patient is thoroughly impregnated with medicine and yet the patient is required to exert no more effort in inhaling and exhaling than if he or she were not provided with the inhaler. This is obviously important and desirable when the lungs of the patient are Weak.

In addition to the practical advantages which I have hereinbefore ascribed to my novel inhaler it will be noticed that the same is inexpensive in construction, is adapted to be expeditiously and thoroughly cleaned after use, and is not liable to cause any discomfort whatever to the patient.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An inhaler comprising a cup-shaped body, a tube extending forwardly from the body and open at its rear and forward ends; said tube having an interior stop, an annulus of absorbent material removably arranged in the tube and against the stop thereof, and removable devices carried by the tube and bearing against the annulus for holding said annulus against casual movement or displacement.

2. An inhaler comprising a tube having an interior stop, a body of absorbent material arranged in the tube and against the said stop, and removable clips having spring-loops straddling and clasping the outer end of the tube and also having inwardly-directed arms arranged against the outer side of the absorbent body.

3. An inhaler comprising a cup shaped body,-a pad carried on the edge of the body and adapted to bear against the face of a patient, an elastic loop connected to the body and adapted to hold the same on the head of the patient, a tube extending forwardly from the body and having a stop at its inner end, an annulus of absorbent material removably arranged in the tube and against said stop; said annulus being adapted to beimpregn ated with medicine, and removable clips having spring-loops straddling and clasping the outer end of the tube and also having inwardly-directed arms arranged against the outer side of the annulus.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature A in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. MURPHY. Witnesses:

HERMAN J. DEWENTER, HENRY J. BAILEY. 

